I became 41 years old on October 5. On such occasions, I have a tendency to slow down a little bit, think back to the previous year and ask myself some questions:
– Did I do my best to achieve my goal?
– Did I get closer to what I dreamed of?
– What obstacles did I have to overcome and what did I learn from it?
– How do I continue next year, what should I change?
– Do I still have enough motivation?
– etc.

Everything or more?

I think I can honestly say that I did a lot to achieve my goal. I managed to change my lifestyle, despite the initial difficulties I achieved a sustainable state. I did not torture myself, I don’t want to think in extremity. It is a long journey, I need time to reach my goal and I must no hurry. I don’t want to destroy my motivation by impatience and expect a miracle from day to day. I take my steps in tiny, but I enjoy all the moments on this road because I see the results.

I can not say so honestly that I really did _everything_, because there could always be more. If I did more cardio workouts I would certainly have a lower percentage of body fat. With more strictier diet I would certainly be leanier, with more weight workout I could have more muscle mass and so on. The question for me is always what should I sacrifice and what benefit would I have gained with it? If I did all this, would it have been sustainable in the long run or would it have been momentary flares? As a father of 3 children, the most important question for me is that what I do is compatible with my family life and sustainable in the long run. In the light of that, I do not mind if I skip a running on trademill because instead I cook dinner for my kids. Or just lumping down the couch with my wife to watch a good movie.

Hard work returns!

The positive feedback of my family and friends gives me great motivation, even though I do not see the sharp change every day. Mirrors, photos, scales, centimeters also proves me being on the right track. It was a surprise a couple of days ago when I go shopping and I bought some T-shirts and underpants and instead of XL, the L size was perfect! I know it’s sounds wierd from a guy, but I was very happy when I walk out from the shop with a smile from ear to ear. Until now, it was a boring and compromise process for shopping, but now I’ve started to enjoy it. Somehow everything is looks better on me! 🙂

Adaptation

Even today it is hard to stop me from getting a huge wopper menu, brutal amount of pancakes, a huge pizza with extra cheese or a humped plate gulyás with homemade white bread … uh … and I admit that, at least once a week, I have a cheating day when I let myself seduced. Of course not uncontrollable but on that day I eat everything. In that case, I enjoy eating, filling with endorphins and getting new impetus. In this way, the whole process is more sustainable because sometimes I reward my body / soul for the hard work. The biggest lesson I learned:

I never have to give up anything, I just have to deserve it!

What’s next

What I should change next year is: more cardio workouts. I think we’re doing a very good job in the gym. Of course, weight training could be longer or more common, but currently it gives enough work for a busy guy like me. However, I have to spend more time for interval trainings. I want to see six pack ab again in the mirror! Aside from the constant work, this is my short-term goal, so I need more cardio and strickt diet.

Motivation

I think my motivation is all right. I always look forward the before and after photos. I already feel very good in my skin, but I have plenty of opportunities for development. A little statistic at the end: